Bioelectrical Signal Measuring Apparatus Including Electric Probe Attaching to Nasal Cavity Mucosa

Abstract

A bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus includes a mucosa contact electrode brought into contact with a nasal cavity mucosa or an oral cavity mucosa to apply a negative pressure and to measure a bioelectrical signal, an insertion tube, having one end supporting the mucosa contact electrode, inserted into a nasal cavity and bent, and a lead wire, connected to the mucosa contact electrode and connected to an amplifier disposed outside, extending in the insertion tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus comprising:
 a mucosa contact electrode brought into contact a nasal cavity mucosa or an oral cavity to apply a negative pressure and to measure a bioelectrical signal;   an insertion tube, having one end supporting the mucosa contact electrode, inserted into a nasal cavity and bent; and   a lead wire, connected to the mucosa contact electrode and connected to an amplifier disposed outside, extending in the insertion tube.   
     
     
         2 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mucosa contact electrode is in the form of a shell in which an elliptical portion and a cylindrical portion are coupled to each other,
 the mucosa contact electrode includes a negative pressure suction inlet having a funnel shape, and   the negative pressure suction inlet is disposed to have an inclined cross section of the elliptical portion.   
     
     
         3 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the mucosa contact electrode is a conductive metal, metal plating, conductive ceramic, or conductive silicon having low electrical contact resistance and less ionization caused by a body fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the conductive metal or the metal plating is gold, platinum, titanium, tantalum, stainless steel, platinum-iridium, or alloys thereof,
 the conductive ceramics is silver chloride (AgCl), titanium nitride (TiN), surface-chloridized silver, or surface-nitrided silver, and   the conductive silicon is a silicone elastomer filled with silver-plated particles, or a silicon elastomer mixed with conductive metal particles.   
     
     
         5 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a valve connected to the other end of the insertion tube to control the negative pressure and to vent the negative pressure to atmosphere;   a vacuum tank connected to the valve to provide a constant negative pressure;   a vacuum pump exhausting the vacuum tank; and   a regulator disposed between the vacuum pump and the vacuum tank to provide a constant pressure to the vacuum tank,   wherein the vacuum pump continuously generates a negative pressure and determines the degree of vacuum in the vacuum tank using the regulator,   the regulator adjusts the degree of vacuum to prevent the mucosa contact electrode from damaging the mucosa, and   the valve vents the insertion tube to an atmospheric pressure to separate the mucosa contact electrode from a surface of the mucosa.   
     
     
         6 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein elasticity of the insertion tube is used or a metal core, formed of a metal material, is inserted into the insertion tube to fix the mucosa contact electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insertion tube-nostrils coupling portion fixing the insertion tube to nostrils,   wherein the insertion tube-nostrils coupling portion comprises:   a multilayer soft fin tube, into which the insertion tube is inserted, inserted to the nostrils;   an insertion tube fixing body, disposed outside the nostrils, supporting the multilayer soft fin tube; and   an insertion tube clamp, disposed on the insertion tube fixing body, fixing the insertion tube at a predetermined length, and   wherein the insertion tube penetrates through the insertion tube fixing body.   
     
     
         8 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mucosa contact electrode is in the form of a funnel and is formed of conductive silicon, and has 
     
     
         9 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one auxiliary electrode to measure electroencephalography or electrical impedance.   
     
     
         10 . The bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optically-pumped atomic magnetometer or a near infrared spectroscopy sensor configured to measure a biomagnetic signal,   wherein the optically-pumped atomic magnetometer or the near infrared spectroscopy sensor includes a negative pressure fixing portion and is fixed to the oral cavity or the nasal cavity.   
     
     
         11 . In a bioelectrical signal measuring method of a bioelectrical signal measuring apparatus including a mucosa contact electrode brought into contact with a nasal cavity mucosa or an oral cavity mucosa to apply a negative pressure and to measure a bioelectrical signal, an insertion tube, having one end supporting the mucosa contact electrode, inserted into a nasal cavity and bent, and a lead wire, connected to the mucosa contact electrode and connected to an amplifier disposed outside, extending in the insertion tube,
 the bioelectrical signal measuring method comprising:   inserting a probe, including the mucosa contact electrode and the insertion tube, into a nasal cavity or an oral cavity to be fixed to a mucosa using a negative pressure;   attaching an auxiliary electrode to a portion exposed outwardly of a human body; and   differentially amplifying and measuring a potential difference of the mucosa contact electrode and the auxiliary electrode, or amplifying and measuring a voltage and current at one of the mucosa contact electrode and the auxiliary electrode while applying a voltage to the other electrode.   
     
     
         12 . A bioelectrical signal measuring method as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring a biomagnetic signal an extreme infrared spectroscopy signal in the oral cavity or the nasal cavity using an optically-pumped atomic magnetometer or a near infrared spectroscopy sensor fixed to the oral cavity or the nasal cavity.